Archive for August, 2010

Georgia Tech released its depth chart on Saturday:

OFFENSE

QB

Josh Nesbitt, Sr.

Tevin Washington, R-So.

B-back

Anthony Allen, R-Sr.

Preston Lyons, R-Jr. or

Lucas Cox, R-Sr.

A-back

Roddy Jones, R-Jr.

Orwin Smith, So.

A-back

Embry Peeples, Jr.

Marcus Wright, Jr.

WR

Kevin Cone, R-Sr.

Tyler Melton, R-Jr.

WR

Stephen Hill, So.

Quentin Sims, R-So.

LT

Phil Smith, R-So.

Tyler Kidney, R-Fr.

LG

Will Jackson, R-Fr.

Nick McRae, R-So.

C

Sean Bedford, R-Sr.

Jay Finch, R-Fr.

RG

Omoregie Uzzi, R-So.

Zach Krish, R-Sr.

RT

Austin Barrick, R-Sr. or

Nick Claytor, R-Jr.

DEFENSE

E

Izaan Cross, So.

Robert Hall, R-Sr.*

DT

T.J. Barnes, R-So.

Shawn Green, Fr.

E

Jason Peters, R-Jr.

Ben Anderson, R-Sr.

OLB

Steven Sylvester, Jr.

Malcolm Munroe, R-So.

OLB

Anthony Egbuniwe, R-Sr.

A.T. Barnes, R-Sr.

ILB

Brad Jefferson, Sr.

Brandon Watts, R-Fr.

ILB

Kyle Jackson, R-Jr.

Brandon Watts, R-Fr.

RCB

Mario Butler, Sr.

Rod Sweeting, So.

LCB

Dominique Reese, R-Sr.

Louis Young, Fr.

S

Cooper Taylor, R-So.

Mario Edwards, …

Continue reading Tech’s depth chart released »

B-back Anthony Allen, who was held out of a couple practices this week after sustaining a head injury, played in the scrimmage. Tech coach Paul Johnson said he was, “fine.” Allen didn’t sound so sure. No surprise there.

“I already had some screws loose, and they might have knocked some more loose,” he said. “They really couldn’t tell if I was OK or not because they were asking me questions and I was giving them off-the-wall answers, but that’s what I do anyway.”

Also, Nick Claytor returned after missing four days of action with a lower leg injury. Johnson said Claytor is still competing with Austin Barrick and Phil Smith for the two starting tackles spots on offense, and that his time away did not set him back. “He’s still in it,” Johnson said. “The other two missed the spring.” Barrick did not miss all of the spring, but was quite limited by his class schedule.

Among those in red jerseys and therefore out of action Friday were nose tackle Logan Walls, and reserve defensive …

Continue reading Allen returns for scrimmage »

After Georgia Tech finished its final preseason scrimmage Friday afternoon, neither coach Paul Johnson nor defensive coordinator Al Groh seemed overly impressed upon leaving Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Johnson said, “It is what it is. It was scripted. We didn’t have a lot of energy. I’m hoping that’s . . . we’re going to take the weekend off and come back Monday with more energy.”

Unlike the first scrimmage on Aug. 14, which was open to the public and the media, the Jackets did not work against their own schemes. In other words, Groh did not coach against Tech’s option offense, and the offense did not work against Tech’s 3-4 defense.

Both units worked against South Carolina State scout teams comprised of players not expected to be on the two-deep depth chart for the Sept. 4 opener in Bobby Dodd against the Bulldogs.

Much of the scrimmage was focused on specific situations, and the coaches who will sit upstairs on game day sat upstairs Friday and so on.

Groh paused before giving an …

Continue reading Tech scrimmage results not satisfying »

Georgia Tech will scrimmage on Friday and coach Paul Johnson said a depth chart will be released afterward.

Should things go well on Friday, Johnson said the team will have Saturday and Sunday off before returning on Monday to begin final preparations for the season-opening game against S.C. State.

This will be the third scrimmage the team has held during August. It is not open to the public.

There are still several position battles being waged: both offensive tackles, one guard, both safeties, kicker, punter and kick-returner.

Etc.

B-back Anthony Allen didn’t participate in practice for a second consecutive day after sustaining a blow to the head earlier this week. He will return on Friday, Johnson said. Allen was recently named to a watchlist for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s best running back. … B-back Preston Lyons was awarded a scholarship earlier this month. … Johnson said he hadn’t heard the developing news regarding North Carolina’s football team. “I’ve …

Continue reading Tech will scrimmage Friday »

Two seasons ago, Kyle Jackson made 61 tackles as a redshirt freshman.

Last season, Jackson could only stand and watch. A dislocated joint in his foot kept him on the sidelines for the year.

However, Jackson is back. Working his way up from the third string, Jackson has been running with the first-team group because Brandon Watts has been out with an injury.

In a way, Jackson said he has surprised himself.

“It’s not surprising in the sense that I never thought I could do it, but it’s surprising in the sense of how quickly things are going,” Jackson said. “It was hard. Before I got hurt I was used to running with the ones. One of the biggest things I learned throughout my injury was humility and patience. It took a lot of humility and a lot of patience for me to come back to camp and to see myself low on the depth chart and have to work my way back up.

“The feeling right now, being where I’m at, is indescribable. I feel like I truly earned where I am right now.”

Now a redshirt …

Continue reading Mr. President surprises himself »

As the competition continues to win the two tackle positions on Georgia Tech’s offense, assistant coach Todd Spencer said it puts his mind at ease to know that each of three candidates — Phil Smith, Nick Claytor and Austin Barrick  — have experience in games that have shaped the Paul Johnson era in Atlanta.

“Most of those kids have played in some big games, ACC championship game, Orange Bowl game, rivalry games, the Chick-fil-A bowl,” Spencer said. “All three of those guys have been in big games, played in big games and done good things in big games.”

A mostly experienced group, Smith, a redshirt sophomore, is the youngest, Spencer said the trio understands the nuances of the positions and are able to better understand and apply what he and assistant Mike Sewak are teaching them in the classroom and correcting during practices. Between them, Spencer and Sewak have worked with or for Johnson for 25 years. So they understand what needs to be done.

The challenge has been the …

Continue reading Tackling the Georgia Tech tackles »

Even though Anthony Allen was held out of Wednesday’s practice as a precautionary measure after sustaining a blow to the head, Georgia Tech is still very deep at B-back.

Coach Paul Johnson said earlier this week that the position was the deepest on the team. Assistant coach Brian Bohannon said it’s the deepest they’ve had in three seasons at Tech.

Including Allen, Tech has Lucas Cox, Preston Lyons and Richard Watson. They are all big, punishing runners whose style works well in a spot that demands tough runs between the tackles.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Bohannon said. Obviously we can’t play four backs so we’ll sort that out as we get closer.”

Bohannon raved about each player earlier this week.

“I think Preston and Lucas have had a really good camp,” he said. “Richard’s done some things that he hasn’t done before.”

Bohannon said one noticeable difference is what they are doing when they don’t have the ball: blocking, particularly their pass blocking.

“Their physical …

Continue reading Don’t worry about B-back »

Georgia Tech B-back Anthony Allen was held out of Wednesday’s practice as a precautionary measure after he sustained a hit to the head, coach Paul Johnson said.

Allen is thought to be the Yellow Jackets’ starting B-back this season. As an A-back last season, he rushed for 618 yards on a 9.7-yards-per-carry average. Tech hasn’t released a depth chart and Johnson said they won’t until next week.

As  a featured back for Louisville in 2006 and 2007, Allen rushed for more than 1,000 yards in the two seasons.

Should Allen not return until next week, Tech is still very deep at B-back. Johnson said on Tuesday that it was the deepest position on the team.

Behind Allen are Lucas Cox, who impressed during the spring, Preston Lyons, who was the No. 2 B-back behind Jonathan Dwyer last season, and Richard Watson, whom coaches have said is doing good things in August.

“Depth is always a good thing to have,” said Lyons, who rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown last season. “When you have that …

Continue reading Allen held out of Tech’s practice »

Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team will play Richmond in the Battle at Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas on Dec. 18. Tech is 5-4 all-time against the Spiders.

Tech went 23-13 last season and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Yellow Jackets’ entire schedule will be released next week.

However, the Yellow Jackets will host Albany on Nov. 17, Niagara on Nov. 19, Georgia on Dec. 7, Savannah State on Dec. 11, Fordham on Dec. 27, Mercer on Dec. 31, UNC-Charlotte on Jan. 2, and Tennessee-Chattanooga on Feb. 16.

Tech has road or neutral-site games against Kennesaw State on Dec. 4, Northwestern, Richmond, Siena, Texas-El Paso and either Syracuse or Michigan.

In ACC home games, Tech will host Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Dates haven’t been announced. The conference schedule is expected to be announced in early September.

Conference road games will be at national champion Duke, Clemson, Miami, …

Continue reading Tech will play Spiders in hoops »

Georgia Tech football players Roddy Jones and Kyle Jackson were recently selected as co-presidents of the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board.

The board is made up of 22 athletes, at least one from each sport Tech offers, and represent the athletes’ voice in the direction of the Georgia Tech Athletics Association. The co-presidents will attend the GTAA board meetings and currently have one vote in procedural matters. It’s being discussed if Jones and Jackson will each get to vote.

It’s the first time in the board’s history that co-presidents have been selected. Darryl Richard was the last football player to serve as president.

There are two other football players on the SAAB: Jason Peters chairs the community service arm and Stephen Mann is also a member.

Continue reading Tech’s co-presidents »